Brevard County · Buying
Buying a new-build home in Brevard County
Your own agent at the builder, and the inspections that still matter on a new home.
Free · Agents who know Brevard County · Every step in one app
A brand-new home has a special pull: nobody has lived there, everything is clean, and you may get to pick the finishes. It is exciting. It can also feel like stepping into a different world, with model homes, builder contracts, upgrade lists and big deposits, and a salesperson who is friendly but works for the builder.
Many new-home buyers assume a new house has no problems, or that the builder will handle everything. Most builders want happy buyers, but new homes can still have mistakes, and the builder’s contract is written to protect the builder.
This page helps you protect yourself: bring your own representation, understand the contract and deposit, get the inspections that still matter, and know your rights if something goes wrong after you move in.
What’s different for you
- Bring your own agent. The builder’s salesperson works for the builder.
- Still inspect. New homes can have problems too.
- Read the builder contract. Builder contracts differ from resale contracts.
When you start in CloseHive from this page, your plan already includes these steps, along with the usual ones for buying in Brevard County. You always see what to do next, and your agent handles the how.
What to know
The builder’s salesperson works for the builder
The people in the model home represent the builder. Having your own agent means someone on your side reads the contract, compares upgrades and pushes back on dates. Some builders have rules about when your agent must be named, such as on your first visit, so ask before you walk in.
Builder contracts are different
Builders use their own contracts, not the common resale forms. They often set how long construction can take, what happens if it runs late, what the builder can change, and what happens to your deposit if you can’t close. Read it slowly and ask a real estate attorney if anything is unclear.
Your deposit and escrow
Florida law says buyers of a new one- or two-unit home from a builder or developer have the right to have deposits, up to 10% of the price, held in an escrow account. The contract must say this in a clearly visible notice. This right can be waived, but only in writing, so read the deposit section before you sign. The rule does not apply to builders that build fewer than 10 homes a year.
New homes still need inspections
City or county inspectors check that the home meets code, but they work for the public, not for you. Your own inspector can look before the walls are closed (a pre-drywall inspection) and again before closing. Ask the builder in writing if your inspector can come to the site.
Extra taxes in some communities
Some new communities are in a community development district (CDD). Florida law says the first sale contract must tell you that the district may charge taxes or assessments on top of county taxes, for things like roads and water lines. Many new communities also have an HOA, and Florida requires an HOA disclosure summary before you sign.
Property taxes after you move in
The tax number on a new home listing may be based on the land or a half-built home. Ask the Brevard County Property Appraiser’s office what the taxes may be once the finished home is fully valued, and apply for homestead by March 1 if it will be your main home.
If something goes wrong after closing
Start with the builder’s written warranty and its claim steps. Florida law also has a process before you can sue a builder over a construction defect: you send a written notice of claim at least 60 days before filing. The builder can inspect within 30 days and must answer within 45 days with an offer to repair, an offer to pay, both, or a refusal. An attorney can explain your options.
Your options
What to gather
- Bring your own agent to the first builder visit, or ask how to register them
- Read the builder’s contract, warranty and deposit terms before signing
- Check the escrow statement in the contract before you hand over a deposit
- Ask whether the community has a CDD and how much it charges each year
- Get the HOA disclosure summary before you sign
- A written list of every upgrade, with prices
- Book a pre-drywall inspection and a final inspection
- Compare the builder’s preferred lender with at least one other lender
- Ask the property appraiser’s office what taxes may be once the home is fully valued
- Keep the warranty papers and a log of anything that needs fixing
Mistakes to avoid
- Visiting the model alone the first time. Some builders have rules about registering your agent on the first visit. Ask first.
- Thinking a new home doesn’t need an inspection. City inspections check code, not quality for you. Hire your own inspector before drywall and before closing.
- Signing away the escrow right without knowing it. Florida lets buyers have deposits up to 10% held in escrow. Read anything that asks you to waive it.
- Using the listing’s tax estimate. It may not include the finished home. Ask the property appraiser’s office for a better estimate.
- Missing the warranty deadlines. Write down every warranty deadline and report problems in writing.
Brevard County in numbers
- The typical home in Brevard County is worth about $339,600, and 77% of homes are lived in by their owners.
- Typical rent here is about $1,556 a month, including utilities.
Free help
Questions people ask
Do I need my own agent for a new build?
It’s your choice; your own agent represents you, not the builder.
Do I need my own agent for a new build?
It’s your choice. Your own agent represents you, not the builder. Ask the builder about their rules for registering your agent before your first visit.
Should I get a home inspection on a new house?
Yes. City inspectors check code. Your own inspector works for you and can catch mistakes before the walls close and before closing.
Is my deposit protected with a builder in Florida?
Florida law gives you the right to have deposits up to 10% of the price held in escrow when buying a new one- or two-unit home from a builder that builds 10 or more homes a year. You can waive it in writing, so read the contract.
What is a CDD?
A community development district is a local special district that can charge taxes or assessments on top of county taxes to pay for things like roads and utilities. Your first sale contract must disclose it.
Do I have to use the builder’s lender?
Ask the builder whether any incentive depends on using their lender, then compare Loan Estimates from more than one lender before you decide.
What if the builder won’t fix a defect?
Follow the warranty’s claim steps in writing first. Florida law requires a notice of claim at least 60 days before suing over a construction defect. An attorney can explain your options.
Why are taxes on a new home hard to estimate?
The listing may show taxes on the land or a partly built home. Ask the property appraiser’s office what to expect once the home is fully valued.